“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” — Mother Teresa.
This summer, the Samaritan Center has been able to open our doors to two different church groups who wanted to give back to the community. While volunteering is a seemingly small act, these groups will create many ripples in our community that will last for years to come.
The first group, the Dixieland Leadership Club from Dayton, TN, partnered with our social services department to pack comfort care kits to give out to the homeless population in our community. These care kits include various personal items to give homeless people the dignity of caring for their hygiene and health.
Dixieland Leadership Club brought a large group of students who had big smiles on their faces. Each was eager to do what they could to give back! Once the assembly line was explained by our Executive Director, Tony Dahlberg, and our Social Services Director, Sharon Smith-Hensley, the students got to work. While they only had a few hours to spend volunteering with us, the students managed to pack 964 comfort kits.
The second group of volunteers was from Birmingham, Alabama, and was part of Student Life Kids Camp. This group volunteered with Lyndon Blackman, our Volunteer Recruiter, to finish puzzles, dress dolls, match baseball cards, and fabric. Because of their volunteer work, we will be able to sell the toys, games, and fabric. Money made from the sale of these items will go to support our social services department.
Volunteers are crucial to the work we do at the Samaritan Center. Our volunteers give their time and energy to provide help and hope to the community. When we work together as one, we can create ripples that change the lives of those around us.